# US 2018/0320809 A1 · Unit, manifold, and flow path forming method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320809 A1 - Document ID: US20180320809A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/033,768 - Filed: 2018-07-12 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-14 - Assignees: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tetsuharu Kawasaki; Kenzou Toshiro; Kazuyuki Tamada; Misao Miyazawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320809A1 ## CPC - F16L 41/03: comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members - E03B 9/02: Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants - F16L 3/02: partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing (bands or chains F16L3/14) - F16L 37/113: the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part - F16L 37/23: by means of balls - F16L 37/252: the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part - F16L 41/021: {T- or cross-pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) ## Abstract According to an embodiment, a manifold includes a plurality of units disposed in a liquid flow channel including a hose. The unit includes a hollow tube body, three or more tube stubs communicating the inside of the tube body, and a connection fitting provided with each of the tube stubs and detachably connected to a connection target of same shape. The manifold forms a flow path communicating the tube stubs of the units while the units are detachably connected together with the connection fittings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A manifold comprising a plurality of units disposed in a liquid flow channel including a hose, wherein the unit each includes: a hollow tube body and three or more tube stubs communicating an inside and an outside of the tube body; and a connection fitting provided with each of the tube stub, the connection fitting which can be detachably connected to a connection target of same shape, wherein the manifold forms a flow path to communicate the tube stubs of the units each other while the units are detachably connected together through the connection fittings. ### Claim 1 (depends on 1) manifold of claim 1, wherein the unit further comprises a rotation mechanism which rotatably connects the connection fitting and the tube stub. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, wherein the connection fitting includes an annular fitting body, a plurality of protrusions arranged in a circumferential direction at the end of the fitting body, and a recess formed between the adjacent protrusions, and the protrusion fits in the recess of the connection fitting of a connection target and prohibits movement of the fitting body in an axial direction with respect to the projection of the connection fitting of the connection target. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, further comprising a base which supports at least two units such that the connection fittings thereof are opposed to match the axis of each of the tube bodies and that the connection fittings do not contact with the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The manifold of claim 3, wherein the tube body is annular, the connection fitting is annular where the outer diameter thereof is greater than that of the tube body, the base includes a pair of first supporting members extending in a first direction and arranged in parallel with each other with a first gap therebetween in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a pair of second supporting members extending in the first direction and arranged in parallel with each other with the first gap therebetween in the second direction, the pair of first supporting members and the pair of second supporting members are arranged linearly in the first direction with a second gap therebetween in the first direction, the first gap is less than the outer diameter of the tube body, and the second gap is greater than a sum of widths of the pair of connection fittings in the axial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, further comprising a cap including a connection structure which can connect to the connection fitting and blocking the tube stub. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, further comprising a relay fitting including: a first opening; a second opening communicating the first opening and having a diameter different from that of the first opening; a first connection structure provided with the first opening and connectable to the connection fitting; and a second connection structure provided with the second opening and connectable to a connection fitting having a diameter which is different from the connection fitting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, wherein at least three of the tube stubs include: a first tube stub having an axis parallel to a first axis direction; a second tube stub having an axis parallel to a second axis direction crossing the first axis direction; and a third tube stub having an axis parallel to a third axis direction crossing a plan surface including the first axis direction and the second axis direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, wherein the tube body is shaped as an arc having the tube stubs at both ends thereof, and the connection fitting is provided with each of the ends, and a circular flow path is formed by the tube body of each unit when the units are connected to the connections fittings at the ends. ### Claim 10 A unit provided in a liquid flow channel including a hose, the unit comprising: a hollow tube body; three or more tube stubs communicating the inside of the tube body; and a connection fitting provided with at least one of the tube stubs and detachably connected to a connection target of same shape, wherein the tube stubs include: a first tube stub having an axis parallel to a first axis direction; a second tube stub having an axis parallel to a second axis direction crossing the first axis direction; and a third tube stub having an axis parallel to a third axis direction crossing a plan surface including the first axis direction and the second axis direction. ### Claim 11 A flow path forming method to form a manifold having a three-dimensional flow path using a plurality of units including: a first tube stub having an axis parallel to a first axis direction; a second tube stub having an axis parallel to a second axis direction crossing the first axis direction; a third tube stub having an axis parallel to a third axis direction crossing a plan surface including the first axis direction and the second axis direction; and connection fittings provided with each of the first, second, and third tube stubs and detachably connected to a connection target of same shape, the method comprising: assembling a first segment in which at least two of the units are connected in the first axis direction with the connection fitting of the first tube stub of the unit; assembling a second segment in which at least two of the first segments are connected in the second axis direction with the connection fitting of the second tube of the unit; and assembling the manifold by connecting the second segments in the third axis direction with the connection fitting of the third tube stub of each unit of the second segments.